Wednesday, March 29, 2017

The Lord said
to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being
king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse
the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’ 2Samuel said, ‘How can
I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.’ And the Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you,
and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.” 3Invite Jesse to the
sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me
the one whom I name to you.’ 4Samuel did what the Lord commanded,
and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and
said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’ 5He said, ‘Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with
me to the sacrifice.’ And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to
the sacrifice. 6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely
the Lord’s anointed is now
before the Lord.’ 7But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look
on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him;
for the Lord does not
see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’ 8Then Jesse called
Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ 9Then Jesse made
Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ 10Jesse made seven of
his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen any of these.’ 11Samuel said to Jesse,
‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but he
is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we
will not sit down until he comes here.’ 12He sent and brought
him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him;
for this is the one.’ 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the
presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.
Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Introduction

Our
calling into the family of God in Christ Jesus can be described as a call from
darkness into light. As children of God,
our lives should be exemplary, demonstrating the love of Christ in a world
tainted by sin. According to Scripture,
we are God’s letter written on human hearts.
This means that we bring meaning to the world. Just as light is important for vision, all
followers of Christ are part of God’s plan to spread the message of His immense
love to all. Without light, even though
one has eyes, it is impossible to see.
Understanding that we are children of light will help us live as instruments
of God’s love in a world filled with pain; it helps us to always say no to sin,
evil and all works of darkness, rather to bring love, hope, joy and peace to
all the people in our lives.

Questions/Discussion

1) What does it mean to
be children of light?

Matthew 5:14-16

‘You
are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket,
but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.16In the same way, let your light shine before
others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in
heaven.

Ephesians 5:8-14

For
once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of
light—9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and
right and true.10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness,
but instead expose them.12For it is shameful even to mention what such people do
secretly;13but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,14for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore it says,‘Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you.’

1 Peter 2:9-10

But you
are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the
mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people;once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

2) What are the lessons for
us in John 9:1-41 regarding being a child of light?

John 9:1-41

As he walked along, he
saw a man blind from birth.2His disciples asked him,
‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’3Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his
parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.4Wemust work the works of him who sent mewhile it is day; night is coming when
no one can work.5As long as I am in the
world, I am the light of the world.’6When he had said this,
he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the
man’s eyes,7saying to him, ‘Go, wash
in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came
back able to see.8The neighbours and those
who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, ‘Is this not the man who used
to sit and beg?’9Some were saying, ‘It is
he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I
am the man.’10But they kept asking
him, ‘Then how were your eyes opened?’11He answered, ‘The man
called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and
wash.” Then I went and washed and received my sight.’12They said to him, ‘Where is he?’ He said,
‘I do not know.’ 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly
been blind.14Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his
eyes.15Then the Pharisees also
began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, ‘He put mud on
my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.’16Some of the Pharisees
said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.’ But
others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?’ And they were
divided.17So they said again to
the blind man, ‘What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ He
said, ‘He is a prophet.’ 18 The Jews did not
believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the
parents of the man who had received his sight19and asked them, ‘Is this
your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’20His parents answered, ‘We know that this is
our son, and that he was born blind;21but we do not know how
it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of
age. He will speak for himself.’22His parents said this
because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that
anyone who confessed Jesusto be
the Messiahwould be put out of
the synagogue.23Therefore his parents
said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’ 24 So for the second
time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, ‘Give glory
to God! We know that this man is a sinner.’25He answered, ‘I do not know whether he is a
sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’26They said to him, ‘What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?’27He answered them, ‘I
have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it
again? Do you also want to become his disciples?’28Then they reviled him, saying, ‘You are his
disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.29We know that God has
spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’30The man answered, ‘Here is an astonishing
thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.31We know that God does not listen to
sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.32Never since the world began has it been
heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.33If this man were not
from God, he could do nothing.’34They answered him, ‘You
were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him
out. 35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he
found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’36He answered, ‘And who is he, sir?Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’37Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and
the one speaking with you is he.’38He said, ‘Lord,I believe.’ And he worshipped him.39Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for
judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become
blind.’40Some of the Pharisees
near him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not blind, are we?’41Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you
would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains.

3) What are some of the
challenges to living as a child of light? How do we overcome them?

Psalm 23:1-6

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not
want.2 He
makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;3 he
restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I
walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a
table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.6 Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.

John 8:12

Again
Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me
will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’

1 John 1:5-7

This is
the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and
in him there is no darkness at all.6If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are
walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;7but if we walk in the light as he himself is in
the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son
cleanses us from all sin.

Intercession/Worship

Conclusion

Understanding
that we are children of light helps us live as instruments of God’s love in a
world filled with pain.

Closing Prayer(Collect
for fourth Sunday in Lent)

Almighty God, through the waters of
baptism your Son has made us children of light. May we ever walk in his light and
show forth your glory in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

From
the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by
stages, as theLord commanded. They camped at Rephidim,
but there was no water for the people to drink.2The people quarrelled with Moses, and said, ‘Give
us water to drink.’ Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you
test theLord?’3But the people thirsted there for water; and the people
complained against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill
us and our children and livestock with thirst?’4So Moses cried out to theLord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to
stone me.’5TheLord said to Moses, ‘Go on ahead of the
people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the
staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.6I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at
Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may
drink.’ Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.7He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and
tested theLord, saying, ‘Is theLord among us or not?’

Introduction

Just as we
experience thirst (a strong need and desire to drink water), we also do
experience spiritual thirst. Spiritual
thirst can be described as a strong need and desire for the Holy Spirit. Although a lot of people may not know it, or
may even reject the notion, everyone experiences spiritual thirst. This is because God made us such that nothing
can truly fill and satisfy us than the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit is to accept
Christ as our Lord and Saviour, believe that His death paid the full price for
our sins, and allow our thoughts, words and action be guided by His examples
and guidance. Simply put, to be filled
with the Spirit is to allow the Holy Spirit to reign in our heart, mind and
body. Holy Spirit is the Water of life,
and our spiritual thirst is quenched only when we drink of Him.

Questions/Discussion

1) What is spiritual thirst?

Psalm 42:1-11

1 As a deer longs
for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me continually,
‘Where is your God?’

4 These things I
remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,
and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
a multitude keeping festival.5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help 6and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.7 Deep calls to deep
at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
have gone over me.8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God, my
rock,
‘Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because the enemy oppresses me?’10 As with a deadly wound in my body,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
‘Where is your God?’

11 Why are you cast
down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.

Isaiah 55:6-13

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;7 let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord,
that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain
and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,11 so shall my word be that goes out from my
mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go
out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the
cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for
a memorial,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Amos 5:14-15

14 Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of
hosts, will be with you,
just as you have said.15 Hate evil and love good,
and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the Lord, the
God of hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

2) What are the lessons for us in John
4:5-42 regarding spiritual thirst and how to quench it?

John 4:5-42

5So he came to a
Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to
his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his
journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. 7 A Samaritan woman
came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. 8(His disciples had gone
to the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that
you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things
in common with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God,
and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked
him, and he would have given you living water.’ 11The woman said to him,
‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living
water? 12Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us
the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’ 13Jesus said to her,
‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14but those who drink of
the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will
give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ 15The woman said to him,
‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming
here to draw water.’ 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and
come back.’ 17The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus
said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband”; 18for you have had five
husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is
true!’ 19The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I see that you are a
prophet. 20Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you say
that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.’ 21Jesus said to her,
‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither
on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we
know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the
true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father
seeks such as these to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship
in spirit and truth.’ 25The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is
coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to
us.’26Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is
speaking to you.’ 27 Just then his disciples came. They were
astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you
want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ 28Then the woman left her
water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 29‘Come and see a man who
told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ 30They left the city and
were on their way to him. 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him,
‘Rabbi, eat something.’ 32But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do
not know about.’ 33So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one
has brought him something to eat?’ 34Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of
him who sent me and to complete his work. 35Do you not say, “Four
months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see
how the fields are ripe for harvesting. 36The reaper is already
receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and
reaper may rejoice together. 37For here the saying holds true, “One sows and
another reaps.”38I sent you to reap that for which you did not
labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’ 39 Many Samaritans
from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me
everything I have ever done.’ 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him
to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. 41And many more believed
because of his word. 42They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of
what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know
that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’

3) How should we respond to our
spiritual thirstiness?

Matthew 11:28-30

‘Come
to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give
you rest.29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have
obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our
hope of sharing the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also boast in our
sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces
character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not
disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right
time Christ died for the ungodly. 7Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous
person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8But God proves his love
for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.9Much more surely then,
now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from
the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to
God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled,
will we be saved by his life.11But more than that, we even boast in God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Revelation 21:6-7

Then he
said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the
end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of
life.7Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be
their God and they will be my children.

Intercession/Worship

Conclusion

Holy Spirit is
the Water of life, and our spiritual thirst is quenched only when we drink of
Him.

Closing Prayer (Collect
for Third Sunday in Lent)

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ
gives the water of eternal life, may we always thirst for you, the spring of
life and source of goodness; through him who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.